Paint container holding device



Aug. 5, 1958 F. E. GROVESTEEN 1 2,846,173

PAINT CONTAINER HOLDING DEVICE Filed April 9, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.4 /8Q=I 8 #18 92 a 1 q [7 4 E 70 84 F5! /'l O i L 47 4- 1 i 47 INVENTOR.

4 FLOYD E. GEOVESTEEN 2g BY PADIT CONTAWER HOLDWG DEVICE Floyd E. Grovesteen, Middleton, Wis. Application April 9, 1954, Serial No. 422,133 6 Claims. (Ql. 248-210) This invention relates to container holding devices and more particularly to a device for supporting and clamping a paint container thereon.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a paint container holding device in which the device may be adjustable to clamp containers of various sizes thereon and to be supported from an inclined supporting surface with the container clamped thereon and maintained in a plumb relation with respect to the inclined supporting surface for the device.

Another object of this invention is to provide a paint container holding device in which the paint can is securely clamped thereon and the container maintained in a vertical position at all times with respect to the angle of inclination of a step section of a ladder to which the device is adapted to be attached.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a container holding device which may be quickly and easily secured to and removed from both a ladder to which it is attached and from the container securely clamped thereon.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a paint container support and clamp device which is inexpensive to manufacture, of relative simplicity and assembly and application, and durable in use over an extended period.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description, forming the specification, and taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a front elevational view of a container holding device embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the device shown in Figure 1.

With continued reference to the drawings, the container holding device of this invention is generally indicated at 10 and generally comprises a bracket 12 of U-shape for attachment to a supporting surface such as the side member 14 of a ladder and overlie a rung 16 thereof, a rotatable shaft 13 carried at one end 29 by an arm 22 of the bracket 12 for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, a fixed jaw member 24 slidably received on the shaft 18 and disposed adjacent the end thereof remote from the end 2%, a movable jaw member 26 spaced from the fixed jaw member 24 and threadingly carried by the end of the shaft 1% remote from the end for movement longitudinally of the shaft and extending longitudinally therefrom in a direction away from the end 20, the jaws adapted to clamp. the container, such as the paint can 2-8, therebetween. The movable jaw 26 is caused to move in its rectilinear path upon rotation of the shaft 18 by employing the bracket 12 as a handle to impart rotation thereto and the screw action of the threaded connection between the shaft and the jaw 26. A lock means, generally indicated at 30, being carried by the fixed jaw member 24 for pivotal movement from a position remote from the shaft 18 to a position intersecting the shaft 18 which extends through the fixed jaw member 24 so that when the lock means 30 is in intersecting relation with the shaft 18, the shaft will be held against rotation to thereby fix the distance between the gripping elements of the respective fixed and movable jaw members so as to securely grip a container therebetween.

The device 10 may be fabricated from either plastic or metallic material.

The bracket 12 is formed of an elongated sheet of material into a substantially U-shape having spaced parallel arms or legs 22 and 23 connected together by a bight 32, the leg 23 having its free end split so as to form a pair of arcuate diverging fingers 34. As clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, the bracket 12 will be disposed with the leg 23 overlying a selected rung 16 of the ladder while the bight 32 will contact the longitudinal end surface of the side member 14 with one of the fingers contacting the rung 16 and the leg 22 disposed outwardly and spaced from the side of the side member 14 remote from the rung 16.

The arm 22 is provided with a transverse opening 36 therethrough adjacent its free end, and the free end of the arm 22, as indicated at 38 is arcuately formed and t is of lesser width than the remainder of the arm 22.

The free end 38 is received in a centrally disposed longitudinally extending slot 40 opening to the end of the shaft 18 with the opening 36 in register with an opening 42 extending transversely through the rod 20 and the slot 411 which forms a bifurcation, so that the shaft 18 is carried by the bracket 12 for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis or pivot pin 44 extending through the opening 42 and the registering opening 36.

The shaft 18 has mounted thereon for sliding movement the fixed jaw member 24 by extending through an aperture 44a in an end wall 46 of the fixed jaw member 24.

The fixed jaw member 24 is in the form of a bracket having a substantially rectangular side wall 48 and a pair of oppositely disposed spaced, parallel end walls 46 and 47, the end wall 46 carrying a depending, elongated lip 50 integrally formed therewith and in spaced parallel relation to the side wall 48. A pair of elongated spaced slots 52 and 54 are cut into the lip .50 and open to the free lower end thereof to define therebetween a tongue 56 that is bent laterally away from the side wall 48 so that the legs 58 and 60 define between the respective slots 52 and 54 and the adjacent edges of the lip 50 along with the tongue 56 define a gripping element for the fixed jaw member 24 and adapted to engage an upper edge 29 formed peripherally about the container 28 to be supported and clamped on the device 10, as shown in Figure 1.

The lower end of the shaft 18 is provided with a threaded inwardly extending bore 62 adapted to receive one end of a threaded bolt 64 which passes through an aperture 66 formed in the end wall 47 and has the other end thereof rigidly secured to the upper end of the leg 68 of the movable jaw member 26.

The jaw,member 26 is of generally L-shape and in which the leg 68 forms the longer portion of the member and the foot 70 extending laterally therefrom and perpendicularly thereto at the end thereof remote from the'end secured to the threaded bolt 64. The foot 70 has its free end turned back upon itself to define a hook 72, the free end of which is adapted to engage a lower depending rim 27 formed peripherally about the lower end of the side wall of the container 28 as shown in Figure 1, so that the container 28 is clamped between the gripping element defined by the hook 72 and the gripping element formed on the free end ofthe lip 50 of the jaw member 24.

The lock means 30 is formed'from a substantially rectangular flat sheet of material and comprises an elongated side wall 174 which has integrally formed therewith a pair of opposed laterally extending spaced, parallel end walls 76 and 78. The end wall 76 is provided with a notch 80which extends inwardly from one side thereof while the end wall 78 is provided with a similar notch 82 which extends inwardly from one side thereof remote from the side where the notch 80' opens, portions of the notches 80 and 82 being in alignment.

The end wall 78 is'a'lso'provided with a dependent lip 84 which projects therefrom at a diverging angle thereto. A flange 86 projects laterally from the side wall 74 adjacent the end wall 78 and is substantially perpendicular to each. As clearly seen in Figures 4 and 6, the flange 86 terminates in an inwardly turn-spring arm 88.

The shaft 1-8 is formed with oppositely disposed grooves 90 and 92 adjacent the upper end 20 and positioned below the end wall 46. The notches 90 and 92 are engaged by the opposite sides of the notch 80in the end wall 76 when the lock means or element 30 is moved from the position remote from the shaft 18 or the dotted line position to a position'intersecting and releasably engaging the shaft 18 or the full line position as shown in Figure 3 about a horizontal axis or pivot pin 94 passing through registering holes 96 and 98 in the lip 50 and the side wall 74 respectively. Thus, the lock means or element is carried by the jaw member 24 for pivotal movement from the position remote from the shaft 18 to the position intersecting and releasably engaging the shaft 18 which extends longitudinally ofthe jaw member in spaced parallel relation to the side wall 48 thereof' In the full line position shown in Figure 3, the spring arm 88 releasably embraces the shaft 18 while the notch 82 receives the lower end 19 of the shaft 18 to thereby secure the shaft against rotation.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that the bracket 12 embraces the side member 14 of the step section of the ladder with the arm 23 engaging thereagainst and having a finger 34 resting on the rung 16. The other side of the side member 14 is engaged by the side wall 48 of the jaw member 24, and the entire assembly carried by the shaft 18 is pivotally dependent from the bracket 12 so that it is movable about the pin 44 as an axis.

With the device releasably attached to an inclined support surface such as the side member 14 of a ladder, the paint container 28 is clamped between the jaw members 24 and" 26, and specifically between the gripping elements of the jaw members, by first inserting the upper peripheral rim under the lip 56 and in engagement with the legs'58 and 60 while the free end of the book 72 of the jaw member 26'engages the inner surface of the lower peripheral rim 27. The lock means or element 30 is in the position of movement removed from the shaft 18 so that the shaft 18 may have rotation imparted thereto by turning the bracket 12, prior to its attachment on the ladder, to thereby cause further threading of the bolt 64 into the bore 62 to decrease the distance between the gripping elements of the respective jaw members 24 and 26 by having the jaw member 26 move in a rectilinear path longitudinally of the shaft 18 to thereby securely grip the paint can or container 28 therebetween.

Thus, it will be seen that containers of varying heights may be accommodated between the jaw members 24 and 26 as the bolt 64 is threaded out of or into the bore 62 I by turning the bracket 12.

VVlth the paint can or container 38 securely gripped between the gripping elements of the respective jaw members, the locking means or element 30 is moved about the pivot pin 94 to intersect the shaft 18 with the notches 90 and 92 received within and engaging the sides of the notch 80, and the lower end 19 engaged by the opposite sides of the notch 82 with the spring arm 88 releasably engaging the shaft, so as to secure the shaft 18 against further rotation and thereby lock the gripping elements of the jaw members in their clamping engagement upon the respective lower and upper peripheral rims of the container clamped therebetween.

It will be noted that the end wall 47 of the member 24 is provided with a V-shaped notch 49 in the free end thereof remote from the side wall 48 and adapted to engage the side wall of the can or container 28 intermediate its ends so as to steady the container as it is clamped between the members 24 and 26. p

The dependent, divergent lip 84 provides a convenient finger grip whereby the lock means or element 30 may be readily moved in its arcuate path into releasable engagement with the shaft 18 or away therefrom after it has been so engaged.

It will be apparent, from the foregoing, and from the illustration in the accompanying drawings, that the paint can or container 28 will always be maintained in a horizontal position despite the inclination of the supporting surface upon which the bracket 12 may rest due to the pivotal engagement between the shaft 18 and the bracket 12 with the weight of the container 28 acting as the weight on a plumb bob to maintain the shaft 18 and the elements carried thereon in a vertical position at all times. Also, it will be apparent, due to the pivotal connection between the shaft and the bracket, that the device can be mounted on either the right or left-hand side of a stepladder, in the event that it is to be used in association therewith. The radius end 38 on the arm 22 permits movement of the shaft 18 in an arcuate path about the pivot pin 44 as an axis without interference by the upper and lower edges of the arm 22. Also, the portion of the end wall 76 in which the notch is provided is so formed as to permit proper clearance of the sides of the notch 80 so that it may easily and readily be brought into and out of engagement with the notches 90 and 92 on the shaft 18.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that there has been provided a container support and clamp device which comprises a fixed jaw member 24 and a movable jaw member 26 spaced therefrom and adapted to clamp a container, such as the container 28, therebetween, a bracket 12 for attachment to an inclined support surface, a shaft 18 carried at one end by the bracket 12 for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, the shaft 18 extending through the fixed jaw 24, the movable jaw 26 carried by the shaft 18 at its end 19 for movement toward and away from the fixed jaw 24 upon rotation of the shaft 18, and a lock means 30 carried by the fixed jaw 24 for pivotal movement from a position remote from the shaft to a position intersecting the shaft 18 to releasably engage the shaft to prevent rotation thereof. The movable jaw 26 is threadingly connected to the end 19 of the shaft 18 and extends longitudinally therefrom with the threaded connection permitting movement of the movable jaw 26 upon rotation of the shaft 18 toward and away from the fixed jaw 24.

While there are shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the structure is susceptible to change and modification within the practicability of the invention and therefore should be limited only 'by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A container holding device comprising a bracket for attachment to a supporting surface, a rotatable shaft carried at one end by said bracket for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, a first jaw member. carried by said shaft adjacent the same end, a second jaw member spaced from said first jaw member and connected by threaded engagement with the other end of said shaft for movement longitudinally thereof upon rotation of said shaft, said jaws adapted to clamp a container therebetween as said second jaw is moved to advance toward said first jaw, and lock means carried by said first jaw for pivotal movement from a position remote from said shaft to a position intersecting and releasably engaging said shaft to prevent rotation thereof.

2. A container support and clamp device comprising a fixed jaw member and a movable jaw member adapted to clamp a container therebetween, a bracket for attachment to an inclined support surface, a shaft carried at one end by said bracket for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, said shaft extending through said fixed jaw, said movable jaw connected by threaded engagement with the other end of said shaft for movement toward and away from said fixed jaw upon rotation of said shaft, and a lock means carried by said fixed jaw for pivotal movement from a position remote from said shaft to a position intersecting and releasably engaging said shaft to prevent rotation thereof.

3. A container support and clamp device comprising a first jaw member and a second jaw member spaced therefrom adapted to clamp a container therebetween, a U- shaped bracket including one arm having a pair of outwardly extending arcuate fingers for engagement upon a supporting surface, a rotatable shaft dependingly carried at one end by the other arm of said bracket for pivotal movement abouta horizontal axis, said shaft extending through said first jaw, said second jaw connected by threaded engagement with the other end of said shaft remote from said bracket for movement longitudinally thereof toward and away from said first jaw upon rotation of said shaft, and lock means carried by said first jaw for pivotal movement from a position remote from said shaft to a position intersecting and releasably engaging said shaft to prevent rotation thereof.

4. A container support and clamp device comprising a first jaw member and a second jaw member adapted to clamp a container therebetween, a bracket for attachment to an inclined support surface, a shaft carried at one end by said bracket for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, said shaft extending through said first jaw, said second jaw being connected by threaded engagement with the other end of said shaft for movement toward and away from said first jaw upon rotation of said shaft, and a lock means carried by said first jaw for pivotal movement from a position remote from said shaft to a position intersecting and releasably engaging said shaft to prevent rotation thereof, said first jaw. including a side wall in spaced relation to said shaft, a pair of spaced upper and lower end walls extending laterally from said side wall, said upper end wall having an aperture therethrough to receive said shaft, said upper end wall having a lip dependingly carried by the end thereof remote from said side wall, said lip having container gripping means formed on the end thereof remote from said upper end wall to engage the upper rim of the container.

5. A container support and clamp device comprising a first jaw member and a second jaw member adapted to clamp a container therebetween, a bracket for attach ment to an inclined support surface, a shaft carried at one end by said bracket for pivotal movement about a 6 horizontal axis, said shaft extending through said first jaw, said second jaw being connected by threaded engagement with the other end of said shaft for movement toward and away from said first jaw upon rotation of said shaft, and a lock means carried by said first jaw for pivotal movement from a position remote from said shaft to a position intersecting and releasably engaging said shaft to prevent rotation thereof, said first jaw including a side wall in spaced relation to said shaft, a pair of spaced upper and lower end walls extending laterally from said side wall, said upper end wall having an aperture therethrough to receive said shaft, said upper end wall having a lip dependingly carried by the end thereof remote from said side wall, said lip having container gripping means formed on the end thereof remote from said upper end wall to engage the upper rim of the container, said lower wall having a notch formed in its end remote from said side wall for engaging the adjacent side of the container clamped between said jaws.

6. A container support and clamp device comprising a first jaw member and a second jaw member adapted to clamp a container therebetween, a bracket for attachment to an inclined support surface, a shaft carried at one end by said bracket for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, said shaft extending through said first jaw, said second jaw being connected by threaded engagement with the other end of said shaft for movement toward and away from said first jaw upon rotation of said shaft, and a lock means carried by said first jaw for pivotal movement from a position remote from said shaft to a position intersecting and releasably engaging said shaft to prevent rotation thereof, said first jaw including a side wall in spaced relation to said shaft, a

- pair of spaced upper and lower end walls extending laterally from said side wall, said upper end wall having an aperture therethrough to receive said shaft, said upper end wall having a lip dependingly carried by the end thereof remote from said side wall, said lip having container gripping means formed on the end thereof remote from said upper end wall to engage the upper rim of the container; said second jaw having a foot extending laterally therefrom at the end thereof remote from the threaded connection to said shaft, said foot carrying container gripping means at the free end thereof in alignment with said gripping means on the first jaw member for clampingly engaging the lower rim of the container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,170,414 Christensen Feb. 1, 1916 1,200,936 Hall Oct. 10, 1916 1,411,279 Jaynes Apr. 4, 1922 1,593,043 Stroecker July 20, 1926 1,974,855 Sl-aght Sept. 25, 1934 2,544,312 Hamilton Mar. 6, -1

FOREIGN PATENTS 288,619 Germany Nov. 10, 1915 311,269 Germany Mar. 12, 1919 

